Tourism land for grabs

By Casey Neill

A ‘Mandarin tourism project’ is proposed for a disused Healesville lot.

Barry Plant Healesville is selling 11 Maroondah Highway, listing the 101 acre site for $8.8 million.

“Once upon a time a visionary sourced this prime piece of property situated at the gateway to the town of Healesville in the heart of the Yarra Valley,” the advertisement for the sign said.

It said concept plans were prepared and the land was rezoned to Special Use Zone Schedule 2 to encourage the development of a tourist precinct.

“The original concept plans allowed for hotel/motel accommodation and self-contained villas, convention facilities including meeting rooms, restaurant and chapel, Chinese landscaped gardens and associated facilities including shops and car parking,” it said.

The property has two road frontages, to Maroondah Highway and Heritage Lane.

The Mail contacted Barry Plant Healesville, but agent Peter Nunn was unable to divulge further information about the project at this time.